Hello readers,

Thank you again for all your awesome, constructive, passionate reviews!

With so much happening in the world, glad to know that there's still a few of you out there reading this little story!

Cheers,

Edith

Lauren and Haldir were left briefly alone in the living room of Orophin's flet. They sat in an uncomfortable silence. Lauren shifted in her seat. It was strange for her to see Haldir in this new light: without a uniform, in a home, caring for a child,

"I didn't know you had nieces and nephews. You seem very devoted to them" Lauren said, trying to make conversation.

"Orophin has a son and daughter, Sionia and Kierran. You have just met his wife, Lyari. Rumil has a son. His wife and son are visiting family, so he has been having dinner here all week" Haldir explained, with a smile at his brother's inability to cook for himself. In contrast to Lauren, the marchwarden was relaxed. He slouched back on the sofa and took a sip of wine that Lyari had served the guests. "I try to spend time with the elflings when I can. Being with my family, it reminds me what I fight for" he finished.

"You clearly enjoyed playing with Sionia. You were very affectionate with her" Lauren commented.

Haldir furrowed his eyebrows. "Of course, I would do anything for her" he emphasized. It was clear Lauren had been surprised by his devotion to his family. She thinks I am cold and uncaring, he thought. Not to mention old and boring, he added to himself. Nothing could be further from the truth. His duty as a marchwarden necessitated strong leadership; he could not show weakness or fear in front of his men. But he had a heart, and he had ignored it for far too long. He had felt his heart stirring since Lauren's return. "Do you have a niece or nephew?" Haldir asked.

Lauren shook her head. "No. My brother isn't married. Neither are my cousins George and Juliette. Children require a lot of attention. I guess most of us want to focus on our professional lives" Lauren answered.

"Don't you want children?" Haldir pressed.

"No, not right now at least" Lauren said nonchalantly. "And you?"

There was a brief silence. "Growing up with my brothers, it was the happiest of times. I want to give that to my children someday" came the brief response.

Before Lauren could continue the conversation, Lyari called from the kitchen that dinner was ready. Orophin's wife was known for her culinary skills and she showed them off magnificently that night. Lauren ate the home made food voraciously. Having her mouth constantly full of food gave her the opportunity to observe the dinner conversation.

"Uncle Haldir kicked the ball with me today, Ada" Sionia piped.

"Really, and did he teach you many new tricks to beat your brother next time you play?" Orophin inquired.

"I think we made good progress. Sionia has great potential" Haldir added energetically.

"You should not encourage this. She is a tomboy already Orophin. She should be with the other elleths, focussing on her reading." Lyari admonished.

Almost reflexively, while still cutting her food, Lauren responded "she can't hope to depend on a man. You should encourage your daughter to stand on her own, be financially independent." The table chatter abruptly ceased. Noting the silence, Lauren looked up from her plate innocently. Lyari looked steely at her. As the elleth lowered her fork, she calmly told Lauren "my daughter need not worry that any man would mistreat her."

Irked, and unable to stop herself, Lauren countered "don't you want your daughter to have goals of her own? To be her own person? Not be defined by whose daughter she is or to whom she's married?"

Sensing the tension, Orophin interjected lightly "Ah, I'm sure Lauren only wants the best for Sionia."

Lyari took her husband's hint in stride, "yes, I'm sure."

The rest of the meal was dominated by conversation between the brothers about border patrols. Lauren ate silently for the rest of the meal. Lyari spoke only to remind the elflings to eat their vegetables. After dinner, to the delight of the children, the brothers played a game of hide and seek with them in the living room. Lyari breezily called for Lauren's help with the dishes in the kitchen. The Princess obliged, though the brief roll of her eyes did not escape the brothers' notice. Lyari handed the washed dishes to Lauren to dry wordlessly at first. She then sighed and stopped washing the dishes. She turned and gave Lauren a serious look.

"Do not think I don't have Sionia's best interests at heart."

"I'm sure you do, as any mother does" Lauren said calmly. "I spoke when I shouldn't have. You have every right to raise your daughter as you see fit."

"Thank you" Lyari nodded. "Haldir, he cares greatly for your well-being" Lyari probed.

"Haldir cares greatly about the safety of the whole realm" Lauren answered matter-of-factly, shutting down the topic. Does he care more about me? She wondered to herself. She shook the thought from her mind. Why did she care what Haldir thought. It nagged her that somehow it did.

"I see" was Lyari's answer.

So ended the conversation in the kitchen. The conversation in the living room was still going.

"Brother, she is no easy task" Orophin warned seriously after the elflings had gone to their rooms for the evening. It was clear Lauren was fiercely independent, not to mention difficult to handle if her behavior at the feast was any indication.

"That is if you are able to pry the Prince of Mirkwood off her first" Rumil smirked not so seriously.

"Really Hal, Rumil and I want you to be happy. Valar knows you deserve it. But, Princess Luthien –" Orophin halted in order to choose his words carefully, responding to Haldir's hostile look. "It will not be easy for you. She is so young. She knows nothing of Middle Earth. She has her own ideas about life. I ask you to reconsider, for your own sake. We all just want what's best for you."

"I'm bonded to her, she will have my protection and loyalty for eternity. Now I know I love her, regardless of how immature you think she is" Haldir said, closing the subject matter. His two brothers exchanged a look. Haldir had just admitted he loved Lauren – a monumental admission laid bare in front of his brothers. It was pushed out of him by Orophin's challenge. Now, he was watching them with raised eyebrows.

"Well then, you have our support" Orophin said heavily.

"You will need it brother, you have as much charm as a spoon. Luckily, your two brothers can help you in that department" Rumil spoke with yet another smirk.

The brothers' conversation had just drawn to a close when Lauren returned to the living room with Lyari. As the adults enjoyed the evening aperitifs, Rumil was the one who asked the question all wanted the answer to.

"You are quite friendly with the Prince of Mirkwood. You find him good company?" Rumil asked lightly, ignoring the daggers being stared at him by his eldest brother.

Surprised by the question, Lauren tucked a strand of hair behind her ears nervously. Then she questioned herself as to why she was nervous. Was it because she was having to discuss Legolas in front of a certain marchwarden? No, she insisted to herself.

"Yes, we have a lot of fun together. I will miss him now that he's gone" Lauren answered honestly.

"Prince Legolas is very charming. But perhaps you will also find good company in Haldir" Rumil said boldly. His eldest brother's daggers became canons, bearing down upon him. I'm helping you, Rumil tried to tell Haldir silently.

Lauren picked up on the subtext. Her eyes roved towards Haldir, whose facial expression was predictably impassive. His eyes, however, shone brightly with emotion. Lauren just couldn't place what the emotion was. Deciding to put an end to this awkward line of questioning, Lauren stood and cheerfully thanked Lyari and Orophin for their hospitality and bade them a good night. Haldir offered to walk her home, which was unavoidable without being rude.

The Marchwarden led Lauren on the scenic route home. He was, during the short trip, trying to work up a way to address Rumil's remarks.

"Did you enjoy dinner Lauren?" he began.

"I haven't had a home-made meal in a long time, it was delicious. Orophin is very lucky" Lauren smiled. "You are very lucky, you have a wonderful family" she added.
"As do you Lauren, I'm sure you see that now" Haldir pointed out.

"Yes, you're right. I am lucky. Even though I'm still getting to know Elrond and his children, I do feel they care for me. I'm lucky that my family on Earth are also wonderful" Lauren concurred.

"I'm glad you see that. There is no doubt Elrond and the rest of the family have treasured you since the day you were born" Haldir emphasized.

"But tonight, I saw an entirely different side of you" Lauren said in turn. Haldir raised his eyerbows, inviting Lauren to continue. "I really didn't see you as the doting uncle" Lauren joked, with a small laugh.

Haldir took a long pause to steady himself. It hurt that Lauren did not see anything affectionate in him. "There is more to me than you realized, it seems" he began. Then, in a softer voice "I care for many, you included." Haldir steeled himself for the response; he did not know how Lauren would react. It had taken a great deal of him to make this small admission. Now, he braced for the response.

Given Rumil's remarks earlier, deep down Lauren understood what was being intimated. She simply chose to continue in denial. She did not want to admit to anyone, most importantly herself, that she could possibly be attracted to the marchwarden. "It shows you care deeply for your people Haldir. I don't think anyone in Lothlorien has doubt of your devotion to your duty."

Haldir deflated on the inside. "Thank you, Lauren" was all he could muster. They had arrived at Lauren's flet. She had intended a formal and cordial farewell. But for some inexplicable reason, she found herself leaning into him and kissing him lightly on the cheek. This time, his eyes were easily readable – joy and longing.

"Good night, Haldir" she whispered. She lingered, their noses almost touching, for a moment before turning and ascending the steps to the front door.

Once inside, Lauren took a deep breath. What the hell was she doing? She truly had no idea what had possessed her to kiss him. She had no intention of having anything other than a platonic relationship with the marchwarden. Her interests lay elsewhere. She wasn't sure where exactly at the moment, but definitely not with him. Yet she was, for some unknown reason, drawn to him. She felt safe with him. It was all ridiculous, she told herself again. She needed to keep her distance.

Haldir was left at the bottom of the stairs bewildered. When Lauren had sidestepped a response to his admission that he cared for her, Haldir was sure Lauren did not return those feelings in any way. When she kissed him, so gently on the cheek at the end of the night, he was sure she felt something more for him. He walked away from the flet to be with his thoughts.